How can I treat lymphedema in my leg?

For those individuals who have developed lymphedema, compression stockings are the best treatment. Compression stockings should be worn for life. 

Surgery for lymphedema is not curative and the results are unpredictable and usually horrendous. Recurrences are also common with surgery. 

Compression stockings are the most effective and safest way to prevent worsening of lymphedema. Today, there are leg pumps available, which can be used at night and complimented with stockings during the daytime. However, the leg pumps are expensive devices. Instead, at night one can simply elevate the legs on a pillow. In the morning, the stockings must be put on as soon as one is out of bed.

What is cause of secondary lymphedema?

Whenever there is damage to lymph nodes or lymphatics from a known cause, this is known as secondary lymphedema. There are many causes of secondary lymphedema. Most common include the following:

Surgery is a common cause of lymphedema. In women following breast surgery, swelling of the arm is common. The swelling primarily results because of excessive dissection in the armpit. With time, the arm becomes severely swollen and is painful. In the olden days when radical surgery of breast was done, lymphedema was very common. Today. Lymphedema of the arm does occur but has a lesser incidence. Sometimes it is the surgeon mucking around excessively in the armpit area that is a cause of lymphedema. Excessive dissection or mucking around in the groin area is also a common cause of lymphedema in the leg. In such cases, lymph nodes in the groin have been damaged and obstruct lymphatic flow. Most people begin to notice leg swelling after surgery on their groin. Others have a continued discharge of white fluid from the groin that can take forever to stop. 

Radiation therapy is also a cause of lymphedema. Radiation therapy can cause blockage of lymphatics. Often radiation is administered to individuals with cancer and results in lymphedema

One of the more common causes of lymphedema is cancer. Cancers can block lymphatics in the armpit or groin and lead to swelling of extremities

Infections caused by parasites are a common cause of lymphedema. In countries where parasites are common, like Africa, lymphedema is a common disorder. These parasites can block groin lymph nodes and cause severe swelling of legs.

Another common cause of lymphedema is trauma. We live in society that is prone to both blunt and penetrating trauma. Sometimes traumatic injuries can damage delicate lymph nodes and lead to swelling of extremities

Irrespective of the cause of lymphedema, there are several treatments for the disorder. If the diagnosis is made early, compression garments can significantly lead to decrease the swelling. compression pumps also work well and can be combined with stockings. All other therapies for lymphedema are experimental, hazardous and can make your condition worse. The majority of lymphedema therapies advocated on cyberspace have little merit, are very expensive and do not work

Causes of lymphedema 101

Lymphedema is classified as primary or secondary. In primary lymphedema there is usually no cause found. In secondary lymphedema, the cause may be an infection, cancer, or surgery

Facts about primary lymphedema

In most cases, the disorder is inherited. The genetic link for primary lymphedema has not been identified and not everyone in the family develops the condition. Most individuals begin to show enlargement of the extremity (usually leg) in their 2nd decade of life.

Primary lymphedema tends to affect more women than men. Most females will notice a slight discrepancy in their legs just after puberty. The swelling may initially start off at the foot or ankle but will gradually affect the entire leg.

Congenital (Milroy’s) disorder usually starts at a younger age. This disorder occurs chiefly because of enlarged lymph nodes in the groin that do not connect with the lymphatic vessels in the leg. When the connection fails, fluid in the leg has nowhere to drain and starts to pool in leg tissues.

Another cause of lymphedema is known as Meige disease (lymphedema praecox). This inherited disorder is seen in the first decade of life or just after puberty. The lymphatic vessels do develop but have no valves. Thus, the fluid keeps on flowing backwards and collects in the extremities. Further lymphatics vessels have very thin wall and cannot actively push out the fluid. With time, the condition progresses and significant swelling of the extremities results.

There are a few individuals who suddenly develop lymphedema of their legs in the 3rd decade of life. Known as lymphedema tarda or delayed onset lymphedema, it is believed to be a mild version of primary lymphedema. Most individuals notice that the leg is gradually increasing in size and that they are no longer able to put on the shoes or wear socks. The disorder affects the entire limb and is frequently mistaken for varicose veins.

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